Summary

On 2 April 2011, a Robinson Helicopter Co R44,
registered VH-HXB (HXB), departed Orange, New South Wales on a
private flight to a property in Macquarie Fields, 27 km south-west
of Sydney Airport.

Approaching 30 NM (55 km) west of Sydney Airport, the
pilot noticed the cloud cover increase. He climbed on top of the
cloud and lost visual contact with the ground. He inadvertently
flew into controlled airspace and was contacted by Air Traffic
Control (ATC).

The Controller requested weather reports from other
aircraft in the area and directed the helicopter to the north, east
and then south of Sydney trying to find a hole in the cloud. About
30 minutes after the initial contact with ATC, the pilot saw a
break in the cloud and was able to descend below the cloud
base.

The helicopter landed at a private property in
Macquarie Fields 10 minutes prior to last light. The pilot was not
rated to fly at night.

During the event, two arriving aircraft and ten
departing aircraft from Sydney Airport were affected.